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Radical SR1 Cup

We get behind the wheel of the thrilling track-only Radical SR1 Cup two-seater

Verdict

4

You can’t deny how thrilling the SR1 is from behind the wheel, and for a select few it will prove to be the perfect way in to competitive racing. But its appeal is limited for the majority of people. The price tag – as good value as it is for this kind of car – is simply too expensive for something you can only use at a racing circuit.

If you’re looking for an easy way in to competitive racing, the Radical SR1 Cup could be it.

The car itself costs £29,850, but spend £37,500 and you also get a full race suit, training for your racing licence and entry to eight competitive races against other SR1 buyers around the UK.

If you’re thinking trackday toy, then you should ramp up your expectations a bit, because this is an out-and-out racing car. It’s powered by a 185bhp 1.3-litre Suzuki engine, mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox. The result is 0-60mph in a Ferrari FF-beating 3.6 seconds.

Shifting up through the gears instantly, with just a slight lift of the accelerator and a short tug on the gearlever, is incredible.

But it’s the cornering that blows you away. The aerodynamics mean the SR1 gets pushed down into the tarmac at high speeds, and it can pull 2.3g through fast bends. That’s over double what the Lamborghini Aventador is capable of.

And with your head exposed to the elements, you quickly find there are few driving experiences as thrilling. The eight races would surely be even more exciting.

The SR1 isn’t sensible: it can’t be used on the road and has no function outside the track. But anyone taking the plunge will get enjoyment that’s otherwise impossible to find at this price.